Frank Cullen

Frank Cullen (2 February 1909 – 2 November 1991) was an Australian architect, who designed over 200 churches, school, monasteries, convents and other church related buildings in Queensland and Northern New South Wales, Australia.[1]

Early life

Francis Leo Cullen was born on 2 February 1909 in Albion, Brisbane, Queensland to Frank Cullen and his wife Elizabeth Duhig, the sister of Catholic Archbishop James Duhig.[2][3] He was educated at St Joseph's Gregory Terrace.[4]

Career

Frank studied his Diploma in Architecture from the Brisbane Central Technical College.[5] He was an articled pupil of Sydney architectural firm, Hennessy, Hennessy and Company from 1928-1933. Cullen then went on to work the for the Queensland Government as draughtsman from 1933-1934.[6] He became assistant architect with H.V.M Brown of Mackay from 1934–35 and then formed his own partnership of Cullen and Egan from 1937-1941.[3] He received a number of commissions through his contacts with the Roman Catholic Church Archbishop James Duhig. In the 1960s, he was a partner in Cullen, Fagg, Hargraves and Mooney. They took on a number of church design projects.[7]

Personal life and death

Cullen married Mary Cronin in April 1941. Cullen on died 2 November 1991 and is buried in Glamorgan Vale Cemetery.

Legacy

Approximately 1500 architectural plans and drawings from the firm of Cullen and Partners are held in the University of Queensland Fryer Library.[8]

Notable works

• Church, Somerset Dam via Esk (1936)
• St Luke's Church, Woolloongabba (1936)[9]
• St Columba's Church, Wilston (1936)[10]
• Holy Spirit School, New Farm (1937)[11]
• St Sebastian's School, Yeronga (1937)[12]
• Villa Maria extension (1938)
• St Joseph's School, North Ipswich (1939)
• St Mary's School, Beaudesert (1939)
• Kenilworth Hotel, Kenilworth (1939)
• Bribie Hotel, Bribie Island (1940)
• St Philomena's Catholic Church, Basin Pocket, Ipswich (1940)
• Mount St Michael's School, Ashgrove (1941)
• Christian Brothers’ College, Greenslopes (1941)
• Nurses Home, Mater Hospital, Bundaberg (1945)
• Monto Hospital, Nurses Quarters, Monto (1948)
• Marist Brothers College, Rosalie (1948)[13]
• St Peters School, Rockhampton (1950)
• Star of the Sea School, Gladstone (1950)[14]
• Sisters of Mercy Convent, Bardon (1950)[5]
• St Joseph's Catholic Church, Nambour (1951)[15]
• Our Lady of the Assumption Infant's School, Enoggera (1955)[16]
• St Finbarr's Church, Ashgrove (1957)[17]
• McAuley Hall, All Hallows School, Brisbane (1958)[18]
• St Monica's Church, Tugun (1959)[19]
• St Joseph's School, Murgon (1962)[20]
• St John's Church, Northgate (1962)[21]
• Memorial Church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Coorparoo (1963–64)[22]
• Our Lady of Dolours Church, Mitchelton (1964)[23]

References

1. "Frank Cullen Architect & Old Boy" (PDF). The Terracian: 9. December 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
2. "Mr. Frank Cullen". Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933). 26 May 1932. p. 12. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
3. "DRAMAS OF THE COURTS". Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954). 14 May 1950. p. 49. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
4. "JUNIOR UNIVERSITY RESULTS". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). 26 December 1924. p. 2. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
5. "One Question Only For Jury In Cathedral Claim". Warwick Daily News (Qld. : 1919 -1954). 13 May 1950. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
6. Watson, Donald and McKay, Judith (1984). "Directory of Queensland Architects to 1940". espace.library.uq.edu.au. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
7. Andersen, Lisa (2000). Responses in ecclesiology : examples of Brisbane church building design in the 1960s. University of Queensland Library: University of Queensland.
8. "Frank L. Cullen Architectural drawings - Fryer Manuscripts". manuscripts.library.uq.edu.au. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
9. "St Luke's Catholic Church | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
10. "History of St Columba's Catholic Church in Wilston | Kedron Brook Catholic Community". 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
11. "Holy Spirit School | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
12. "St Sebastian's Church School (former) | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
13. Brisbane City Council HeritageTrails. "Reminisce in Rosalie" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
14. "Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School". apps.des.qld.gov.au. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
15. "11. St Joseph's Church | Sunshine Coast Open House". sunshinecoastopenhouse.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
16. "School History". www.olaenoggera.qld.edu.au. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
17. "St Finbarr's Catholic Church | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
18. "All Hallows' Convent and School". apps.des.qld.gov.au. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
19. Wrobel, Kerrie (1999). "History of Coolangatta –Tugun Catholic Parish" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
20. "BLESSING AND OPENING CEREMONIES PERFORMED AT MURGON, CHERBOURG" (PDF). Catholic Leader. 1 November 1962. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
21. "St John's Church | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
22. "The Memorial Church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
23. "Our Lady of Dolours Church | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.